Sign construction



1964 H. NEWCOMB ETAL 3,161,972

SIGN CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Aug. 22, 1961 2 Sheeis-Sheej. l

INVENTORS.

JOSEPH G. SCHEXNAYDER R D NEWCOMB 8% w 1964 H. NEWCOMB ETAL 3,161,972

SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

FIG. 9

INVENTORS. JOSEPH G. SCHEXNAYDER HAROLD NEWCOMB BY fl azzr.

United States Patent M SIGN CONSTRUCTION Harold Neweomb and Joseph G. Schexnayder, Memphis,

Tenn., assignors of one-half to Tom ORyan Advertising (30., Inc, Memphis, TBHIL, and one-half to National Guard Products, Inc, Memphis, Tenn.

Filed Aug. 22, 196i, Ser. No. l33,t 79 3 Claims. (Cl. 4i5-i2) This invention relates to a sign particularly adapted to be used in public transportation vehicles, such as streetcars, buses and the like.

As is known, it is common practice to provide, in vehicles for public transportation, advertisements which are arranged around the interior of the vehicle just above the windows thereof. These advertisements are in the form of a plurality of transversely elongated rectangular cards which are arranged side-by-side in frames. In this type of advertising, there is no individuality and no distinctiveness among the signs, which are usually of the same size, thereby losing much of the value of advertising. In addition, these frames are permanently installed in the vehicle and are not interchangeable among vehicles of different sizes. Another disadvantage inherent in those prior signs is that of the expense involved in the preparation of the rectangular cards with the art work thereon, which cards must be specially printed and of the exact size to fit the frames.

The present invention is directed towards providing an advertising medium for public transportation vehicles which overcomes the disadvantages of previous advertis ing signs in such vehicles.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a sign for public transportation vehicles which has individuality, distinctiveness, and which stands out from the usual advertising signs, thereby greatly enhancing its advertising value.

A further object is to provide in such a sign a unique envelope means which permits a great reduction in expense of the sign and which provides greater flexibility and speed in preparing and changing the advertising matter than was heretofore possible.

A further object is to provide such a sign, in which display material may be used in conjunction therewith, which would ordinarily be thrown away.

A further object is to provide such a sign that is so arranged that it will fit any size vehicles.

A further object is to provide in such a sign a frame that is quickly and easily installed.

A further object is to provide such a sign that extends arcuately over and above the conventional vehicle signs.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of signs for public transportation vehicles.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sign construction of the present invention shown attached to a public transportation vehicle and with only a fragmentary portion of the vehicle being shown.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sign construction per se.

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line IVIV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on the line VV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the removable display member of the sign of the present invention, showing the 35,161,972 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 transparent element in a raised position for inserting and removing the display material.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the display member, with the transparent element in a normal closed position over the display material.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, illustrating the preferred shape of the extrusions forming the lip members adjacent the top and sides of the frame.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the sign 11 of the present invention is shown installed in a typical transportation vehicle 13, which includes the usual sidewall structure 15 having a plurality of windows 17 mounted therein and having a plurality of smaller windows 19 above windows 17. Transportation vehicle 13 includes the usual arcuate ceiling 21 having the usual advertising signs 23 mounted thereon, which include a plurality of side-byside transversely elongated rectangular cards 25 which are held in the usual card holders 27.

Sign 11 includes frame 29, which extends substantially straight across when viewed through a horizontal section, as section VV shown in FIG. 5, but which is arcuately contoured when viewed through a vertical section, as section IVIV shown in FIG. 4. When mounted in vehicle 13, as later to be described, frame 29 extends from its lower edge 31 upwardly and outwardly in an arcuate path spaced from vehicle 13, and terminates in an upper edge 33 spaced above advertising signs 23. Stated another way, frame 29 extends from lower edge 31 over and beyond advertising signs 23 and over a portion of ceiling 21. Frame 29 is preferably rectangular in shape when viewed from the front, as in FIG. 2, with the upper portion of the frame being contoured outwardly toward the viewer of this figure.

Frame 29 includes a substantially rectangular and arcuate member 35 which forms the base of the frame upon which a removable display member 37 of sign 11 fits in engagement. In other words, member 37 fits over the front side of member 35. Member 37 is preferably in the composite form, best seen in FIGS. 6-8, and which will be described in detail later in the specification. However, member 37 may be in the form of a single flexible rectangular cardboard sign placard without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Frame 29 additionally includes lip members 38, 39, and 40, which are respectively attached to arcuate member 35 adjacent the opposite side edges and upper edge thereof. A smaller lip member 41 is attached to arcuate member 35 along the lower edge thereof. Lip members 38, 39, 40, and 41 respectively, extend inwardly over a portion of arcuate member 35 in spaced relationship thereto respectively to establish slots 42, 43, 44, and 45, which receive the respective edges of members 37. Lip members 38, 39, 40, and 41 are preferably in the form of extrusions having the crosssectional shapes best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, and which are attached to arcuate member 35 by suitable means, as brads or the like, not shown. One of the important features of the present invention is the shape or form of these extrusions. Referring now more specifically to FIG. 9 to illustrate this form, it will be seen that lip 39 is integrally jointed to the base portion 46 of the extrusion by means of a web 47. This web 47 extends the length of lip 39 and performs the two important functions of strengthening the lip 39 and acting as a stop to limit movemerit of member 37, when the edge thereof abuts web 47. The extrusion forming lips 38 and 40 are constructed in a manner similar to the construction hereinabove described for lip 39, and therefore a detailed description of these two is not deemed necessary. Lip members 38 and 4t) engage each other at the miter joint 48 and lip members 39 and 40 engage each other at the miter joint 49. Lip member 41 is preferably spaced at the opposite ends thereof from lip members 38 and 39, as best seen in FIG. 2, to provide spaces 51, 53 for a purpose later to be described. The entire frame 29 is preferably formed from a substantially rigid and light material, such as, for instance aluminum. Although other materials may be used Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Suitable means is provided for attaching frame 29' to vehicle 13, and said means preferably comprises a pair of brackets 55, with each of the brackets preferably including a portion 57 fixedly attached to the backside of frame 2Q adjacent the lower part thereof as by brads or the like. In addition, each of the brackets preferably includes a rearwardly extending portion 59, integrally formed with portion 57 and extending perpendicularly therefrom, and a flange portion 61, integrally formed with portion 59 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom. Flange portion 61 is the part that actually is attached to wall structure 15, and is preferably attached thereto as by means of screws 63 or the like, extending through apertures 64 in the flange portion. Each of brackets 55 is preferably arcuate in shape along the upper edge of portion 59, to fit the member 65 of vehicle 13 that extends horizontally over smaller windows 19. A suitable resilient strip 67 is preferably attached to the arcuate upper edge of portion 59 to contact member 65 and prevent rattling or the like.

Another important feature of the present invention is the resilient cushion means coupled to the backside of frame 29, and which is preferably in the form of a pair of block-like strips 69, 70 of polyester foam, foam rubber, or the like, which is attached to the back of frame 2% along the opposite side edges thereof by the use of adhesive or the like. In addition, the resilient cushion means preferably includes a transverse strip 71, preferably of the same material as strips 69, 76. Strip 71 is attached to the backside of frame 29 and extends along the upper edge thereof from strip 69 to strip 79. The lower ends 73, 74 of strips 69, 7%) preferably terminate at places spaced from the lower edge 31 of the frame 29 so that the lower ends 73, 7 4 contact member 65 and extend upwardly therefrom in contact with signs 23 and in contact with a portion of ceiling 21. Also, strip 7i contacts ceiling 21. Thus, the space behind frame 2? which is between frame 29 and vehicle 13 is blocked off from access, whereby persons riding the vehicle cannot reach in behind the frame and deposit articles, etc. In addition, it will be understood that strips 69, 7d, and 71 provide a means for preventing rattling and prevent contact between frame 29 and vehicle 13. Also, it will be understood that this unique construction of the resilient cushion means on the backside of frame 29 makes it so that the sign can be interchanged among vehicles of different sizes that have different contours of their ceilings, since the cushion means will readily be contoured to the shape of the vehicle upon pressure of the cushion means thereagainst.

It will be understood that it is not necessary for sign 11 to be placed in the exact position with respect to the windows, as illustrated in the drawings, but instead, other suitable well known bracket means may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, to attach frame 29 in other positions, as, for example, the frame may straddle the portion of the wall structure 15 between the windows, if desired, and the bracket means may be attached to frame 29 in positions other than at the opposite lower corners thereof. However, if other suitable bracket means are employed, the flange portions 61 are preferably omitted, but the portions 59 of brackets 55 are preferably used so as to block off the space behind frame 29 from access. Also, although only one sign 11 is shown in the drawings, it will be understood that it is contemplated that these signs be All placed at spaced intervals along the interior of the vehi- Cle 13.

In placing member 37 in frame 29, it will be understood that the member is inserted from the bottom of the frame, that is, the upper edge of the member 37 is placed over lower lip member 41 and in the lower ends of slots 42, 43. Then the member 37 is slid upwardly until the upper edge of the member is in slot '54 and the lower edge is urged inwardly and allowed to drop behind lip member 41 into slot 45. Substantially the reverse of this operation is performed to remove member 37 from frame 29. It will be understood that the spaces 51 and 53 are useful to manipulate the member 37 into a housed position as above described or to remove member from frame 29, since the spaces afford a place where a persons fingers can press against or grasp the lower edge of the member.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 68, which show the preferred form of the removable display member 37, it will be seen that member 37 is of composite construction in the form of an envelope, and comprises four elements: a flexible backing element 75 which is preferably formed of a rectangular piece of vinyl plastic, cardboard, or the like; a flexible transparent and glossy element 77, which is preferably formed of vinyl plastic or the like cut to substantially the same size as backing element '75 and adapted to overlie the backing element; means for hingedly joining elements 75 and 77 along a pair of adjacent edges thereof, which is preferably in the form of adhesive tape 79 or the like, that is folded over the edges of elements 75, 77 and adhered thereto as best seen in FIG. 8; and flexible display material 81, removably interposed between elements 75, 7 7 and which display material is in the form of so-called soft sheets, newspaper advertisements, or the like.

7 The above-mentioned construction of display member 37 provides means in sign Ill, which permits a great reduction in the expense of advertising in public transportation vehicles, such as street cars, buses and the like. it provides greater flexibility and speed in preparing and changing the advertising matter than was heretofore possible. Heretofore, it was necessary to specially print and prepare advertising cards of the exact size to fit the frames, whereas with the sign ll of the present invention, any flexible display material can be used. Thus, any newspaper ads, which entail only the price of the newspaper, can be clipped out of the newspaper and interposed between elements 75, 77, or any so-called soft sheets may be used. The cost of the soft sheets is negligible, since the advertiser usually has an excess of these left over from his point of purchase advertising that he would ordinarily throwaway.

The ease of replacing ads in the sign 1?. of the present invention can readily be appreciated. Thus, the display member 37 is removed from frame 2? as heretofore described. Transparent element '77 is raised from backing element 75 and display material 81 is placed on the backing element with the printed advertising matter 83 facing upwardly, as shown in FIG. 6. Transparent element 77 is then lowered to overlie display material 81 and backing element 75. It will be understood that transparent element 77 will adhere to display material 81 and backing element 75 due to static electricity, whereby a substantially unitary display member 37 is provided which has a pleasing, glossy appearance and which appears to have been specially designed and made for the job, rather than having been made of newspapers, soft sheets or the like.

It should be noted that the display material 81 need not be of any special size, since the portions of backing element 75 not covered by the display material will serve as a border. Also, it should be noted that the construction of member 37 lends itself to great flexibility, since the ad may be made up of different pieces laid out to form a unitary ad. For example, a design may be cut out from the newspaper to form one part of display material 81 and the lettering may be obtained from another source to form another part of the display material. Then, these parts may be placed together between elements 75, $1 to form the composite ad.

After the desired display material 81. is interposed between elements '75, 81, then it will be understood, display members 37 is simply replaced in frame 29 in a manner heretofore described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a unique sign 11 is provided which stands out and provides an eye-catching advertising medium, which is much more attractive than the conventional advertising signs 23 and can thereby command greater advertising rates. Also, it will be understood that such a sign is provided which makes public transportation advertising less costly than heretofore, and makes it more flexible. In addition, it will be understood that such a sign is provided which is adaptable to fit any size vehicle, and which provides means for quick and easy installation.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a public transportation vehicle having an arcuate ceiling and having a wall structure with windows therein and having side-by-side advertising card holders mounted above said windows, the combination therewith of a sign comprising a contoured frame extending upwardly and outwardly over said advertising card holders and over a portion of said ceiling; said frame including a substantially rectangular and arcuate member, and lip members attached to said arcuate member adjacent the edges thereof and extending inwardly over a portion of said arcuate member to establish slots; a display member received in said frame with the edges of said display member being received in said slots and held by said lip members, bracket means connected to the backside of said frame adjacent only the lower edge thereof for attaching said frame only adjacent the lower edge thereof to said Wail structure of said vehicle in such a manner that said frame is spaced from said vehicle and extends upwardly and outwardly from said bracket means over a portion of advertising card holders and upwardly therebeyond over a portion of said ceiling with the upper edge of said frame projecting beyond the lower edge of said frame and being unattached to said vehicle, and resilient cushion means coupled to the backside of said frame around a major portion of the edge of said frame and contacting said vehicle in conforming relationship thereto for closing otf from access the space behind the frame in said vehicle and for preventing rattle thereof.

2. In a public transportation vehicle of the type including a wall structure, windows mounted in said wall structure, an arcuate ceiling extending upwardly from said Wall structure, and side-by-side advertising card holders mounted above said windows, the combination therewith of a sign comprising an arcuate frame extend ing upwardly and outwardly over said advertising cards and over a portion of said ceiling; said frame including a substantially rectangular and arcuate member, and lip members attached to said arcuate member adjacent the edges thereof and extending inwardly over a portion of said arcuate member to establish slots; a flexible display member received in said frame in face-to-face engagement with said rectangular and arcuate member with the edges of said display member being received in said slots and held by said lip members, bracket means connected to the backside of said frame adjacent only the lower edge thereof for attaching said frame only adjacent the lower edge thereof to said wall structure of said vehicle in such a manner that said frame is spaced from said vehicle and extends over said advertising card holders and upwardly therebeyond over a portion of said ceiling, a pair of block-like strips attached to the backside of said frame adjacent the side edges thereof and a transverse strip attached to said frame adjacent the upper edge thereof, said strips being resilient and contacting said vehicle in pressing relationship thereto whereby said strips are adapted to conform to the surface against which pressed so that said sign fits said vehicle and is adapted to fit various other sizes and shapes of public transportation vehicles.

3. The sign of claim 2 in which said display member comprises a flexible backing element, a flexible transparent element overlying said backing element, display material interposed between said backing element and said transparent element, and means attached to said backing element and said transparent element adjacent one of the edges only of said backing element and said transparent element for hingedly joining said elements adjacent only one of the edges thereof so that said transparent element is adapted to be moved between closed and open positions relative to said backing element for the insertion and removal of said display material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 642,270 1/00 Smith 40-125 X 1,059,653 4/13 Ash 40l2 1,255,748 2/18 Hollenbeck 4012 1,470,486 10/23 Russell.

1,487,606 3/24 Robeson 40125 X 1,733,890 10/29 Leal 40129 X 1,918,790 7/33 Whyte 40129 X 1,970,822 8/34 Sommers 40-63 2,539,546 1/51 McGuire 40-63 X 2,876,666 3/59 Harrington 40-129 X JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. E. V. BENHAM, LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiners. 

1. IN A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE HAVING AN ARCUATE CEILING AND HAVING A WALL STRUCTURE WITH WINDOWS THEREIN AND HAVING SIDE-BY-SIDE ADVERTISING CARD HOLDERS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID WINDOWS, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A SIGN COMPRISING A CONTOURED FRAME EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY OVER SAID ADVERTISING CARD HOLDERS AND OVER A PORTION OF SAID CEILING; SAID FRAME INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR AND ARCUATE MEMBER, AND LIP MEMBERS ATTACHED TO SAID ARCUATE MEMBER ADJACENT THE EDGES THEREOF AND EXTENDING INWARDLY OVER A PORTION OF SAID ARCUATE MEMBER TO ESTABLISH SLOTS; A DISPLAY MEMBER RECEIVED IN SAID FRAME WITH THE EDGES OF SAID DISPLAY MEMBER BEING RECEIVED IN SAID SLOTS AND HELD BY SAID LIP MEMBERS, BRACKET MEANS CONNECTED TO THE BACKSIDE OF SAID FRAME ADJACENT ONLY THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF FOR ATTACHING SAID FRAME ONLY ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE OF SAID VEHICLE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID FRAME IS SPACED FROM SAID VEHICLE AND EXTENDS UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BRACKET MEANS OVER A PORTION OF ADVERTISING CARD HOLDERS AND UPWARDLY THEREBEYOND OVER A PORTION OF SAID CEILING WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FRAME PROJECTING BEYOND THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FRAME AND BEING UNATTACHED TO SAID VEHICLE, AND RESILIENT CUSHION MEANS COUPLED TO THE BACKSIDE OF SAID FRAME AROUND A MAJOR PORTION OF THE EDGE OF SAID FRAME AND CONTACTING SAID VEHICLE IN CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP THERETO FOR CLOSING OFF FROM ACCESS THE SPACE BEHIND THE FRAME IN SAID VEHICLE AND FOR PREVENTING RATTLE THEREOF. 